Western Hemisphere's Defense and Security News

Canada awarded $154 million contract to upgrade Phalanx CIWS

The Defense Ministry of Canada announced that the Government of Canada awarded a contract to Raytheon Canada Limited of Calgary, Alberta, to overhaul, repair and upgrade the Canadian Navy’s Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS).

The $154.8 million contract calls for Raytheon to convert 21 Phalanx close-in weapon systems Block 1B Baseline 0 to a Baseline 1 configuration and to provide repair services and spares, as well as additional engineering and technical support. The work will be performed at Raytheon Canada Limited Support Services in Calgary, Alberta.

The Phalanx close-in weapon system, developed by Raytheon Missile Systems, protects ships and their crews against an increased number of threats, including standard and guided artillery, helicopters, floating mines and a variety of shore-launched, anti-ship missiles. It is especially effective against swarming attacks by small, fast gunboats.

The Phalanx Block 1B surface mode provides both a radar and a thermal imager for target identification and rapid tactical actions in the cluttered near-shore environment. Block 1B Baseline 1 improves the weapon’s performance against high-velocity, maneuvering anti-ship missiles. More than 850 Phalanx systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 24 nations.

“This government continues to deliver leading-edge technology to the Canadian Forces and concrete results for our economy,” said Minister Paradis. “This eight-year contract will contribute significantly to the local economy while ensuring that the men and women of our Canadian Forces have the best equipment available to do their jobs.” The Industrial and Regional Benefit (IRB) Policy applies to this procurement. It requires that Raytheon Canada Limited undertake high quality and advanced-technology business activities in Canada valued at 100 per cent of the contract value and thereby ensures that federal defence procurements will generate long-term industrial and regional development in Canada.